Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills, being concerned that students in ASTI-staffed schools will automatically and unfairly lose 10% in their English exams this academic year, recognises that talks between the Department of Education and Skills and the ASTI are continuing in an effort to resolve this dispute but, despite these talks, the ongoing dispute between the ASTI and the Department over changes to the junior certificate cycle is a significant cause of frustration and concern to students and their families; that the position of the Department of Education and Skills that the students affected by the dispute, but not other students, will automatically lose 10% of their marks through no fault of the students, is deeply unfair to those students and cannot be allowed to happen and is placing an undue burden of stress on the students; and calls on the Minister for Education and Skills to instruct the State Examinations Commission, together with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, co-ordinated by the Department of Education and Skills, to devise and implement this year a new method of assessment for students who will be unable to undertake the classroom-based assessment of their English junior certificate cycle due to the non-co-operation with the junior cycle changes by ASTI members; and to immediately withdraw the threat of the punishment of students by the deduction of 10% from their English exams.

Over the past two weeks, since I tabled the motion, I have continued my engagement on behalf of my party with the ASTI, the TUI and the Department of Education and Skills. As the motion acknowledges, talks are taking place between the Department and the ASTI on the issue of junior certificate reform. I understand talks will take place again next Wednesday.

There seems to have been a huge gap between last November and the formation of the Government in May when much time was lost and wasted by the Department and the Government. This is deeply unfortunate and this time cannot be got back. We will have a ballot result from the ASTI, which is protesting outside the Dáil today. Many things are happening. Fianna Fáil remains deeply concerned about the 10% of marks, as do parents and children. At this point, we are at a few seconds to midnight in this process. If the ASTI is to do what the Department is asking it to do, or if there is to be any other move, it will have to ballot its members which will take some time.

The interests of children must be at the centre of all of this. Talks are continuing, and I do not want to do anything to upset those talks, and the sentiment is in the motion. While the talks continue and there is still hope that officials and the Government can sort this out with the ASTI, and the ASTI might be in a position to move on this and I cannot say whether it is or not, it might be wise for me not to put this motion today but rather to withdraw it, with leave of the committee, to resubmit it at some point in the near future, to allow these talks to continue and not create an atmosphere around them. It might be more helpful if we did not pass a motion today.

The fact we are having this discussion here today, with two motions and an amendment to the motions on the table, should alert the Department and the ASTI to the deep concern the committee has about the issue, and the various parties on the committee who have engaged on the issue in the weeks since I have tabled the motion. We want to see this sorted out in the best interests of the children.

I will withdraw my motion, but what Deputy Martin does is a matter for herself. We will not be for or against. We will abstain on amendments or motions to be consistent with our position today, but I may have to raise the issue again.